Related Links

Houma woman offering free fitness classes

Lori Bolden (bottom front) teaches her students in her “Stamp Out Obesity” class held Saturdays at Body Elite on Prospect Boulevard in Houma.

Kris JohnsonStaff Writer

Published: Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at 1:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at 9:45 a.m.

A Houma woman is using two unrelated skills to help locals get in shape.

Lori Bolden, social worker and former member of the U.S. Army and Air Force, is using her experience in both fields to offer free fitness classes.

“All we talk about down here is ‘Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler,' you know, letting the good times roll, and we eat and we eat and we eat,” she said. “So, this is my campaign to help everybody do something about it.”

Bolden, 50, weighed 233 pounds at her heaviest, she said. She lost about 45 pounds after making the decision to eat healthier and increase activity. She then joined Team Beachbody — the fitness community behind intense, trendy workouts like Brazilian Butt Lift and P90X.

“I started these classes as a means to do something about it,” Bolden said. “I was one of those people before. I realized how much Beachbody helped me, and I wanted to share that.”

Called “Stamp Out Obesity,” the classes are held at 10 a.m. every Saturday at Body Elite, 1953 Prospect Blvd., Houma. Bolden coaches her students through a different workout in each class.

“I started out planning the first one,” she said. “Now I let them choose. So if they want to do Insanity that's what we work on.”

Interested individuals do not need a gym membership to attend.

Bolden decided to start the classes after hearing about the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2011 study ranking Louisiana as the second most obese state in the nation.

The report said at 33.4 percent, Louisiana's obesity rates are second only to Mississippi, which leads the nation at 34.9 percent. No state had a rate lower than 20 percent, an indication that obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the nation.

“I'm not a trainer,” Bolden said. “I'm a fitness coach. And my credentials as a social worker allow me to really help. I don't just deal with working out but with emotional issues as well, whatever they need. I connect people to resources and resources to people. The bottom line is finding out their why. You say you want to lose weight, but what got you there? What causes you to overeat or skip or slack off in your workouts?”

Bolden set out to give people the opportunity to choose healthier lifestyles. And locals have grasped on to the concept, she said, as her highest attended class was more than 20 students, ranging in age from 15 to their 70s. She is working on starting a separate youth class.

One of Bolden's students, Houma resident Wanda Babin Besson, said the class is “an amazing workout with some fun ladies.”

And Bolden said she doesn't plan to stop the fun anytime soon.

“We'll be there indefinitely,” Bolden said. “The gym's owner, Nicole Blanchard, has been a blessing. I can't charge people for the classes, so she doesn't charge me to use the space. And as long as she lets me have them there then I'm going to keep having them. Until she tells me otherwise, I'll keep showing up, and we'll show out and stamp out the obesity ranking.

“It's so exciting,” Bolden added. “All my life I struggled with obesity, but my doctor recently told me I am no longer obese. So, I'm paying it forward through Team Beachbody. They gave me the tools to reach my goal, and now I'm a better person to be able to help people.”

Staff Writer Kris Johnson can be reached at 857-2207 or kris.johnson@houmatoday.com.

<p>A Houma woman is using two unrelated skills to help locals get in shape. </p><p>Lori Bolden, social worker and former member of the U.S. Army and Air Force, is using her experience in both fields to offer free fitness classes. </p><p>“All we talk about down here is 'Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler,' you know, letting the good times roll, and we eat and we eat and we eat,” she said. “So, this is my campaign to help everybody do something about it.” </p><p>Bolden, 50, weighed 233 pounds at her heaviest, she said. She lost about 45 pounds after making the decision to eat healthier and increase activity. She then joined Team Beachbody — the fitness community behind intense, trendy workouts like Brazilian Butt Lift and P90X. </p><p>“I started these classes as a means to do something about it,” Bolden said. “I was one of those people before. I realized how much Beachbody helped me, and I wanted to share that.” </p><p>Called “Stamp Out Obesity,” the classes are held at 10 a.m. every Saturday at Body Elite, 1953 Prospect Blvd., Houma. Bolden coaches her students through a different workout in each class. </p><p>“I started out planning the first one,” she said. “Now I let them choose. So if they want to do Insanity that's what we work on.” </p><p>Interested individuals do not need a gym membership to attend. </p><p>Bolden decided to start the classes after hearing about the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2011 study ranking Louisiana as the second most obese state in the nation. </p><p>The report said at 33.4 percent, Louisiana's obesity rates are second only to Mississippi, which leads the nation at 34.9 percent. No state had a rate lower than 20 percent, an indication that obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the nation.</p><p>“I'm not a trainer,” Bolden said. “I'm a fitness coach. And my credentials as a social worker allow me to really help. I don't just deal with working out but with emotional issues as well, whatever they need. I connect people to resources and resources to people. The bottom line is finding out their why. You say you want to lose weight, but what got you there? What causes you to overeat or skip or slack off in your workouts?” </p><p>Bolden set out to give people the opportunity to choose healthier lifestyles. And locals have grasped on to the concept, she said, as her highest attended class was more than 20 students, ranging in age from 15 to their 70s. She is working on starting a separate youth class. </p><p>One of Bolden's students, Houma resident Wanda Babin Besson, said the class is “an amazing workout with some fun ladies.” </p><p>And Bolden said she doesn't plan to stop the fun anytime soon. </p><p>“We'll be there indefinitely,” Bolden said. “The gym's owner, Nicole Blanchard, has been a blessing. I can't charge people for the classes, so she doesn't charge me to use the space. And as long as she lets me have them there then I'm going to keep having them. Until she tells me otherwise, I'll keep showing up, and we'll show out and stamp out the obesity ranking.</p><p>“It's so exciting,” Bolden added. “All my life I struggled with obesity, but my doctor recently told me I am no longer obese. So, I'm paying it forward through Team Beachbody. They gave me the tools to reach my goal, and now I'm a better person to be able to help people.” </p><p>Staff Writer Kris Johnson can be reached at 857-2207 or kris.johnson@houmatoday.com. </p><p>Follow her on Twitter @krisLjo.</p>